McLaren urges F1 to 'completely avoid triple-headers' in 2022 calendar

McLaren

McLaren urges F1 to 'completely avoid triple-headers' in 2022 calendar

F1 first completed a triple-header in 2018

Sam Hall

Tuesday 7 September 2021 10:35

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McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl has called on F1 to completely avoid triple-headers when setting the 2022 calendar.

It is understood a draft of next year's schedule is due to shortly be presented to the teams, potentially as early as this week.

With F1 certain to confirm a record-breaking 23-race calendar again - as was the case for this season prior to a recent reduction to 22 due to the impact of Covid-19 - Seidl has called on CEO Stefano Domenicali to consider the welfare of team staff.

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“The most important thing from my point of view is that we don’t further increase the number of races per year because I think what we have in place now is already too much in terms of the burden that we put on our people," said Seidl.

“Another very important topic is also the number of triple-headers. From my point of view, we should avoid them completely, again, to reduce the burden on our people.

“[We] should try to get through with avoiding any triple-headers, to be honest.”

F1 regional grouping "very important"

Four triple-headers took place last season as F1 battled through the pandemic, and despite calls last year to axe them for this season, the sport will have competed in a further three by the end of the campaign.

The most audacious is seemingly yet to come, with Qatar in line to complete a trio of races with Mexico and Brazil.

Seidl feels grouping races by region is important to not only ease the burden on teams but also help lower the sport's carbon footprint.

“It is obviously very important for us but I know for [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali] as well it is very important," added Seidl.

"He has put up an agenda for what he wants to achieve with Formula 1 until 2030 and a huge part of that is also the logistics side of things.

“We know from Stefano he is looking into this and we need to see simply now how the first draft will reflect that once we get it.”